‘Empires have fallen…, Afghans never…’: Taliban’s Haqqani issues CHILLING threat to Pakistan after failed peace talks, warns Islamabad will pay if…

Pakistan-Taliban war: Amid heightened tensions after failed peace talks with Islamabad, Afghan Taliban’s deputy chief and acting interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, has issued a stern warning to Pakistan, stating that Afghanistan has never bowed down to outside powers and empires have fallen in their failed attempt to conquer the Afghan people.

What did Haqqani say?

Sirajuddin Haqqani, considered second only to Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada in the Taliban hierarchy, warned Pakistan not to test the patience of Kabul, and threatened “devastating” consequences for Islamabad if it continues to violate Afghan sovereignty.

Haqqani, once considered a close ally of Pakistan and its ISI-run deep state, accused Islamabad of fueling border tensions and violating Afghanistan sovereignty, warning that the neighbouring country will pay a “heavy price” if it imposes war on Kabul.

“We have repeatedly conveyed to Pakistan through various channels and meetings that they should resolve their internal issues within their own country. Any violation of Afghan sovereignty will be met with a devastating response. Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price if it chooses war,” the Taliban leader said.

‘Afghans have never bowed down’

Haqqani noted that Afghans are battle-tested warriors who have never been bested in the battlefield, or bowed to, even by the world’s greatest empires.

The Taliban minister said Afghans are sending a message of positive engagement to the whole world and will not cause harm to any country, but warned that “if something is imposed on us, the consequences will be their fault,” Tolo News reported.

“When you (Pakistan) bring these problems to Afghanistan and create unrest, it shows that there is some other hidden motive behind your actions. Be very cautious – you will pay a very heavy price for this mistake,” Haqqani said.

Why Sirajuddin Haqqani turned on Pakistan?

Notably, Sirajuddin Haqqani, arguably the second-most influential figure in the Afghan Taliban hierarchy after Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, was once considered a close ally of Pakistan, and is accused of carrying out several major terrorist attacks on Islamabad’s behest during the US invasion of Afghanistan.

However, the recent souring of relations due to escalating border tensions and Pakistan’s repeated strikes inside Afghan territory under the garb of anti-terror operations against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, aka the Pakistani Taliban, has deepened anti-Islamabad sentiments with the Afghan Taliban ranks.

Taliban’s top leadership, including Haqqani, are now speaking against Pakistani aggression, especially after Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif threatened “open war” against Afghanistan.

Haqqani, 45, is believed to have masterminded the terror attack on India(BHARAT)n Embassy in Afghanistan, and was given safe haven by Islamabad when US forces were stationed in Afghanistan.